The United Kingdom and Japan have agreed to support their defence and semiconductor sectors to strengthen their bilateral ties and improve collaboration in important critical areas. The action is being taken ahead of the upcoming G7 summit, where both countries are anticipated to play major roles in formulating international, economic, and security policies.
Ahead of the G7 conference today, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of Britain, met with Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan, and signed a new agreement on defence cooperation on April 18, 2023, in Hiroshima, Japan. The agreement, called the “Hiroshima Accord” by No. 10 Downing Street, aims to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries and establish a new “semiconductor partnership” to safeguard chip supply chains. This is done to prevent China, which claims the semiconductor-rich, self-governing island of Taiwan as its territory, from cutting off Western access to this vital technology.
According to the agreement, the two nations would work together on a variety of defence initiatives, including the creation of next-generation fighter aircraft and the exchange of information and knowledge in fields like cybersecurity and space. Along with enhancing each other’s defence capacities, this collaboration will advance regional and global security in the Indo-Pacific. As a result of a desire to support stability in the Indo-Pacific area and shared security concerns, the UK and Japan have been progressively expanding their defence relationship in recent years. This agreement represents a stronger commitment on their part to collaborate on defence capabilities, technology exchange, and joint military drills.
In addition to their defence cooperation, the UK and Japan want to strengthen their ties in the semiconductor business, which is crucial to the economies of both countries. Enhancing domestic semiconductor production and protecting supply chains has turned into a strategic objective due to the rising worldwide demand for sophisticated chips. Thus, as part of the agreement, the UK would assist Japanese semiconductor companies in setting up production facilities in Japan, giving them access to the nation’s cutting-edge R&D resources. Through this partnership, Japanese companies will be able to diversify their supply chains and reduce their reliance on a particular location, while the UK’s position in the global semiconductor industry is intended to be strengthened.
The G7 Summit, which begins today, will focus heavily on the UK and Japan’s strengthening defence and semiconductor relations. The cooperation serves as a model for promoting international security and economic resilience because both nations support a rules-based international order. Expectations are high as the G7 summit draws near for additional declarations and actions that will strengthen the relationship between the UK and Japan while also paving the way for wider international collaboration in crucial fields like cybersecurity, climate change, and sustainable development.
